Carrier for pneumatic dispatch-tubes



No Model.)

s. P. LEAKE. CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBES. No. 431,901. PatentedJuly 8, 1890,

Fig.1

NlTED STATES PATENT FFlCE.

SAMUEL F. LEAKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC DlSPATCH-TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,901, dated July 8,1890.

Application filed October 26, 1389. Serial No. 328,244. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. LEAKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCarriers for Pneumatic Dispatch-Tube Systems, of which the following isa specification.

My invention has relation to closed tubular or cyli ndrical carriers forpneumatic dispatelr tubes of the form composed of sections united byyielding or flexible joints; and it has for its object simplicity ofconstruction of parts, and to so construct the outside wall of thecarrier that the friction between the carrier and wall is diminished toobtain increased speed of carrier with a given amount of power.

My invention accordingly consists of the combinations, constructions,and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter described in thespecification, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1represents an elevation of a carrier composed of jointed or yieldingsections embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of thecarrier, showing a modified form of joint between the sections. Fig. 3is a sectional view showing a ball-and-socket joint between thecarrier-sections. Fig. 41 is a sectional elevation showing a modifiedform of gimbal-joint connection between the carriersections. Fig.5 is atransverse section of the joint shown in Fig. 4, said section beingtaken on the dotted line 1633, Fig. 4.. Fig. (3 is an elevation showinga spiral spring-joint between the carrier-sections. Fig. 7 is atransverse section of a carrier-section, showing anti-friction coveringsor outer surfaces for the carriersections. Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofsame; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing a modification ofarrangement or construction of anti-friction outer surfaces for thecarrier-sections.

A represents the carrier, which is prefer ably of a cylindrical form,and is composed of a number of rigid sections a a a a connected byflexible or yielding joints or corn nections B, which may be of anydesired or suitable character. Thus, for instance, they may consist ofrubber, canvas, cloth, or like connections riveted, as shown at b, tothe approaching ends of succeeding carrier-sections a a, as illustratedin Fig. l, and said yieldin or flexible material may be plain orstraight, as indicated in said figure, or it may be of bellows oraccordion form,as shown in Fig. 2, in which case it permits of aconsiderable extension of the carrier, if desired. Instead of rivetingsaid flexible or yielding connections B to the carrier-sections, anyother suitable or desired fastenings may be substituted. This describedform of rigid sections (0 a a a separate from each other and united bythe flexible connections 13, is that which I prefer to use, as suchconnections form part of the body of the carrier. In Fig. 3 the yieldingor flexible connection I3 is in the form of a hollow ball-and-socketjoint, and in Figs. 4 and 5 in the form of a gimbal joint, and in Fig.(5 in the form of a spiral spring. Whatever the character of theconstruction of the joints B may be, the sections a of the carrier arerigid, and the preferable form of joint B used is that which admits of asingle apartment carrier from end to end. The rigid sections a impartthe necessary stability to the carrier to preventtelescoping orcompression of the carrier on itself in case of collision with anothercarrier or fixture in a tube-as, for instance, a misplaced carrierswitchof a pneumatic dispatch system in which the carrier is used.

The carrier or its sections are preferably covered from end to end withanti-friction material of any suitable kind. This antifriction materialmay preferably consist of a compound of asbestus and plumbago orphosphor-bronze or like material and be of a semicylindrical form forthe lower half of the carrier, as indicated at 0, Figs. 7 and 8, so thatpart of the carrier which im poses its greatest weight directly on thetube and at which is the most friction, has the anti-friction material,while the upper half of the carrier, whereat there is the less friction,may be covered with leather or suitable material D. If desired, however,said anti-friction material C may extend entirely around the carrier aswell as from end to end of the same, as ind icated in Fig. 9. Thisfeature of the anti-fric tion material, extending from end to end of thecarrier, may be applied to the usual carriers in one piece or section,as well as to those composed of sections. distributes the wear of thecarrieron its under side from end to end of the same. The carrier istherefore more durable and does not in use unduly Wear on any one sideto provide space or spaces between it and the tube of the pneumaticsystem in which it is used for the air exhaust or pressure to race bythe carrier without imposing upon the latter its full force or power.

If desired, the carrier may be provided with end supporting-wheels, asshown, described, and claimed in a separate pending application filed byme of an even date herewith, Serial No. 328,243.

I am aware that trains of cars or separate carriers coupled togetherhave been used in pneumatic dispatch-tube systems, and the same are tobe distinguished from my sectional carrier in that it is a singlecarrier. Furthermore, I am aware that anti-fricti0nal rings or washershave been placed on carriers; but such washers are to be distinguishedfrom my auti-frictional carrier or carrier-sections in that the washersconcentrate the wear of the same, so that they rapidly 0r unduly wear toleave spaces between them and the tube of the system for racing of themotive power used in the system.

The anti-friction covering What I claim is- 1. A pneumatic dispatch-tubecarrier (301D- posed of two or more separate sections united by flexibleconnections B, which separate the sections and form part of the body ofthe carrier, substantially as set forth.

2. A pneumatic dispatch-tube carrier having a covering of anti-frictionmaterial extending from end to end of the carrier section or sections,substantially as set forth.

3. A pneumatic dispatclrt-ube sectional carrier having on the under sideof each section anti-frictional material extending from end to end ofthe same, substantially as set forth.

4. A pneumatic dispatch-tube sectional carrier having on the under sideof each section a covering or layer of anti-friction material, and onthe upper side of each section a covering or layerof different materialextending from end to end of the carrier-sections, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL F. LEAKE. WVitnesses:

S. J. VAN STAVOREN, CHAS. F. VAN HORN.

